SPARC and neuroblastoma: To investigate if epigenetic aberrations contribute to NB phenotype, we examined the methylation status and level of expression of seven genes with known tumor suppressor function (HIC-1, TIG-1, HIN-1, CASP8, THBS-1, SPARC, and BLU) in a N-type tumorigenic NB cell line (LA1-55n) and an S-type, non-tumorigenic NB cell line (LA1-5s).